Rachel Barnhart
@rachbarnhart.com
Former journalist. Current Monroe County Legislator. Posts are personal views unless noted as official. Not allowed: threats, defamation, obscenity, harassment or spam. Rochester, N.Y.
They’re putting menstruating women in diapers.
Former ICE Facility Worker 'saw people laying in feces' at Baltimore Detention Center
Whistleblower provides internal documents alleging severe overcrowding, mistreatment months before viral video sparked national outrage
www.wusa9.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:04 PM
They’re putting menstruating women in diapers.
“Moms told me that their kids had lost their appetites after finding worms and mold on their food, had trouble sleeping on the facility’s hard metal bunk beds in rooms shared by at least a dozen other people, and were constantly sick.”
NEW: ProPublica went inside the detention center for immigrant families in Dilley, Texas.
Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next.
The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center
ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of...
www.propublica.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:44 PM
“Moms told me that their kids had lost their appetites after finding worms and mold on their food, had trouble sleeping on the facility’s hard metal bunk beds in rooms shared by at least a dozen other people, and were constantly sick.”
One project had 12 different sources of funding. Affordable housing is really complicated to build right now.
Rochester leads upstate NY in affordable housing construction. Yet the need persists
What does it say about the larger effort of solving the housing crisis if a community with such capacity to address the problem still struggles?
www.wxxinews.org
February 9, 2026 at 12:30 PM
One project had 12 different sources of funding. Affordable housing is really complicated to build right now.
Bad Bunny’s show was beautiful. What a gorgeous tribute to Puerto Rico.
It can’t be lost on anyone that the performers are the ones being brutalized while forced to prove they belong here.
It can’t be lost on anyone that the performers are the ones being brutalized while forced to prove they belong here.
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Bad Bunny’s show was beautiful. What a gorgeous tribute to Puerto Rico.
It can’t be lost on anyone that the performers are the ones being brutalized while forced to prove they belong here.
It can’t be lost on anyone that the performers are the ones being brutalized while forced to prove they belong here.
Prudy is enjoying the Puppy Bowl
February 8, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Prudy is enjoying the Puppy Bowl
Great idea ⛷️
Bring the Winter Olympics back to New York, state lawmaker says
The plan would split the Winter Games between Lake Placid in the Adirondacks and New York City.
www.wxxinews.org
February 8, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Great idea ⛷️
Rochester guy
U.S. Olympian Chris Lillis: "I feel heartbroken about what's happened in the United States when it comes to ICE and the protests…As a country we need to focus on respecting everybody's rights and making sure we're treating our citizens as well as anybody with love and respect."
February 8, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Rochester guy
Also in this post, I spill the tea on how the Bello administration was represented at the Conservative Party dinner.
The same day he puts out a statement condemning Trump's racism, his crew shows up to support a Trump-loving party.
The same day he puts out a statement condemning Trump's racism, his crew shows up to support a Trump-loving party.
We’re Paying Nursing Homes to Take Patients
This was never clearly presented as such to the public and legislature.
rachbarnhart.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Also in this post, I spill the tea on how the Bello administration was represented at the Conservative Party dinner.
The same day he puts out a statement condemning Trump's racism, his crew shows up to support a Trump-loving party.
The same day he puts out a statement condemning Trump's racism, his crew shows up to support a Trump-loving party.
The Monroe County Legislature has approved millions for the Complex Care program. Until recently, the county has not described the program in clear terms.
We are paying nursing homes to take patients with complex needs.
1/
We are paying nursing homes to take patients with complex needs.
1/
February 7, 2026 at 6:10 PM
The Monroe County Legislature has approved millions for the Complex Care program. Until recently, the county has not described the program in clear terms.
We are paying nursing homes to take patients with complex needs.
1/
We are paying nursing homes to take patients with complex needs.
1/
My god, Bruce Blakeman is the speaker.
Bello admin solidly rep’d.
Bello admin solidly rep’d.
No Democrat should be at the Conservative Party dinner.
None.
Shame on all of you.
None.
Shame on all of you.
February 7, 2026 at 12:25 AM
My god, Bruce Blakeman is the speaker.
Bello admin solidly rep’d.
Bello admin solidly rep’d.
No Democrat should be at the Conservative Party dinner.
None.
Shame on all of you.
None.
Shame on all of you.
February 6, 2026 at 11:45 PM
No Democrat should be at the Conservative Party dinner.
None.
Shame on all of you.
None.
Shame on all of you.
Of note - the ads against the second-place candidate focused on his past support for ICE funding.
Steve Kornacki: Democratic primary season kicks off with an anti-establishment earthquake
New Jersey’s special House primary is too close to call, but the results still sent a message about what forces are rising and falling in the Democratic Party.
www.nbcnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Of note - the ads against the second-place candidate focused on his past support for ICE funding.
I hope this recruitment effort is successful. This facility needs a permanent veterinarian. They need pay what they need to pay for these animals.
Rochester's struggle to find a veterinarian prompts $30,000 recruitment effort
After three years, the city has still not received a single viable applicant to be its shelter veterinarian.
www.wxxinews.org
February 6, 2026 at 1:28 PM
I hope this recruitment effort is successful. This facility needs a permanent veterinarian. They need pay what they need to pay for these animals.
I think it's weird not one reporter has gotten Sheriff Baxter on the record yet about ICE.
He's an elected official.
Hold him accountable.
Do his views line up with the general public?
He's an elected official.
Hold him accountable.
Do his views line up with the general public?
February 6, 2026 at 1:25 PM
I think it's weird not one reporter has gotten Sheriff Baxter on the record yet about ICE.
He's an elected official.
Hold him accountable.
Do his views line up with the general public?
He's an elected official.
Hold him accountable.
Do his views line up with the general public?
You keep waiting the whole article for her to actually stand up for the child.
Spoiler alert: she never does.
Spoiler alert: she never does.
Senator Katie Britt would like us all to know that she really really really doesn't want to use children as bait or for DHS to go off the chain even though she authored the legislation that allowed them to do just that and has supported Trump 100% of the time: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...
The G.O.P. Senator Who Can’t Stop Thinking About the Boy ICE Detained
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:53 PM
You keep waiting the whole article for her to actually stand up for the child.
Spoiler alert: she never does.
Spoiler alert: she never does.
🫣 “Temporarily enhanced measurements would theoretically mean athletes being given a bigger, looser suit and, like a sail catching wind, could allow them to make longer jumps.”
Are ski jumpers enhancing their penises to fly further? WADA is ready to investigate
World sport's anti-doping body has vowed to look into the lurid claims that first surfaced in a German newspaper in January.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:38 PM
🫣 “Temporarily enhanced measurements would theoretically mean athletes being given a bigger, looser suit and, like a sail catching wind, could allow them to make longer jumps.”
Bill Moehle narrowly lost the Brighton Democratic Committee endorsement. Which means Morelle and Bello, not ones for democracy when inspired to put thumb on scale, threw him to the wolves.
All those years of loyalty to them and they cast Bill aside.
All those years of loyalty to them and they cast Bill aside.
February 5, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Bill Moehle narrowly lost the Brighton Democratic Committee endorsement. Which means Morelle and Bello, not ones for democracy when inspired to put thumb on scale, threw him to the wolves.
All those years of loyalty to them and they cast Bill aside.
All those years of loyalty to them and they cast Bill aside.
The Democratic Caucus met with the Undersheriff about ICE preparedness. Sheriff did not show. My takeaway is they truly don't understand the assignment. They don't understand ICE/CBP are rogue agencies.
Sheriff Baxter has yet to condemn any of it.
We won't get help from them.
Sheriff Baxter has yet to condemn any of it.
We won't get help from them.
February 5, 2026 at 1:50 PM
The Democratic Caucus met with the Undersheriff about ICE preparedness. Sheriff did not show. My takeaway is they truly don't understand the assignment. They don't understand ICE/CBP are rogue agencies.
Sheriff Baxter has yet to condemn any of it.
We won't get help from them.
Sheriff Baxter has yet to condemn any of it.
We won't get help from them.
"The metro area, which includes Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario and Orleans counties, would need to gain another 7,600 jobs to match a pre-pandemic peak of 451,100 in July 2019."
Rochester's post-pandemic job recovery had its first dip since 2021
The Rochester region has regained 98% of the jobs that were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the recovery slowed slightly in December.
www.wxxinews.org
February 5, 2026 at 1:34 PM
"The metro area, which includes Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario and Orleans counties, would need to gain another 7,600 jobs to match a pre-pandemic peak of 451,100 in July 2019."
2300 officers is still more than we have in all of Monroe County.
Trump administration to withdraw 700 immigration agents from Minnesota
Border czar Tom Homan said the administration's goal is to "achieve a complete drawdown" in the Twin Cities.
www.nbcnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:32 AM
2300 officers is still more than we have in all of Monroe County.
Shocking stat: “MCC reports 9% of its students went without food for a full day because they couldn't afford to buy it.”
MCC testing out a free breakfast program for students
It's one of several actions Monroe Community College has taken to address food insecurity among its students.
www.wxxinews.org
February 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Shocking stat: “MCC reports 9% of its students went without food for a full day because they couldn't afford to buy it.”
Who needs to see a dog’s static ears
February 4, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Who needs to see a dog’s static ears
This has been the fear, now confirmed:
Bannon: “You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November.”
Bannon: “You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November.”
Steve Bannon calls for immigration agents at polling sites during midterms
Ex-Trump adviser adds to elections officials’ concern about potential interference from Trump administration in voting
www.theguardian.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:50 PM
This has been the fear, now confirmed:
Bannon: “You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November.”
Bannon: “You’re damn right we’re gonna have ICE surround the polls come November.”
“The Buffalo Bills leaving Buffalo is a real harm, you know? Missing out on a manufacturing plant could be a real harm. If you don’t get a data center, who gives a [crap]?”
Tax breaks worth $6.4 million per job.
The IDA in Genesee County is offering tax breaks worth $801 million to create just 125 jobs at its STAMP business park.
www.investigativepost.org
February 4, 2026 at 8:35 PM
“The Buffalo Bills leaving Buffalo is a real harm, you know? Missing out on a manufacturing plant could be a real harm. If you don’t get a data center, who gives a [crap]?”